At the JJB Stadium, Wigan's recent appalling run continued as Portsmouth easily beat them 2-0 once they picked up after the break.

The game had started extremely slowly but Harry Redknapp's team finally sparked into life after half an hour of the second half thanks to a goal made in Africa.

Ghana's Sulley Muntari crossed from the left to set up Zimbabwe's Benjani for an easy finish from six yards.

Only minutes later Glen Johnson made it two, cutting in from the right with barely a single Wigan challenge coming in, before shooting low into the bottom corner. Much like their response to Johnson's run, Wigan couldn't muster even a worthwhile chance to speak of as Portsmouth closed out the game.

Meanwhile, Derby County got a point and an even more valuable confidence boost by securing a 0-0 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Lawrie Sanchez will now be getting nervous as the pressure increases from owner Mohamed Al-Fayed after this lackadaisical display. Fulham's cause was hardly helped just before half-time though, when Paul Konchesky was sent off after appearing to elbow Craig Fagan in the face.